Health Minister Admits Ministry Had 'Zero' Oversight Power Over Clinics Before Mazonakis Death

Greece's Health Ministry has had no regulatory authority over private clinics since 2019, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis acknowledged in an interview with iefimerida.gr, as he announced plans to expand the ministry's inspection powers following singer Giorgos Mazonakis's death.

By Vassilis Poulos

Mr. Georgiadis said oversight currently

He said no official complaint was ever filed against the Kolonaki clinic where Mr. Mazonakis died, only an informal verbal tip to the Athens Medical Association, which inspected the practice but found nothing because, he said, "the fraudsters hid what they were doing."

He pushed back on suggestions the association's president, Giorgos Patoulis, bore direct responsibility, saying scammers deceived the oversight system rather than the system failing to act in bad faith.

Mr. Georgiadis avoided calling the situation lawlessness, saying he didn't want to undermine public trust in doctors generally, but acknowledged the case exposed a clear need for stricter controls and clearer rules.

He pointed to a new AI-powered digital platform, already live in Athens and expanding to Piraeus next week and nationwide within ten days, which has flagged 231 cases now referred to medical associations for review.

A companion citizen-facing app allowing people to verify a clinic's license and procedures is expected once legislation passes, roughly a month away.

Mr. Georgiadis also confirmed plans to tighten Greece's 2005 medical advertising ban, which currently allows an exemption for "scientific information" that some providers use as a loophole, and said forthcoming legislation would formally regulate who can call themselves a psychotherapist or mental health counselor — a measure he said Deputy Health Minister Sophia Notopoulou has already publicly welcomed.

"We have excellent doctors," Mr. Georgiadis said. "Let's not burn the good with the bad."

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Greece's Health Ministry has had no regulatory authority over private clinics since 2019, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis acknowledged in an interview with iefimerida.gr, as he announced plans to expand the ministry's inspection powers following singer Giorgos Mazonakis's death.

By Vassilis Poulos

Mr. Georgiadis said oversight currently falls to regional medical associations, the National Transparency Authority, police and prosecutors — bodies that typically act only after a formal complaint.

He said no official complaint was ever filed against the Kolonaki clinic where Mr. Mazonakis died, only an informal verbal tip to the Athens Medical Association, which inspected the practice but found nothing because, he said, "the fraudsters hid what they were doing."

He pushed back on suggestions the association's president, Giorgos Patoulis, bore direct responsibility, saying scammers deceived the oversight system rather than the system failing to act in bad faith.

Mr. Georgiadis avoided calling the situation lawlessness, saying he didn't want to undermine public trust in doctors generally, but acknowledged the case exposed a clear need for stricter controls and clearer rules.

He pointed to a new AI-powered digital platform, already live in Athens and expanding to Piraeus next week and nationwide within ten days, which has flagged 231 cases now referred to medical associations for review.

A companion citizen-facing app allowing people to verify a clinic's license and procedures is expected once legislation passes, roughly a month away.

Mr. Georgiadis also confirmed plans to tighten Greece's 2005 medical advertising ban, which currently allows an exemption for "scientific information" that some providers use as a loophole, and said forthcoming legislation would formally regulate who can call themselves a psychotherapist or mental health counselor — a measure he said Deputy Health Minister Sophia Notopoulou has already publicly welcomed.

"We have excellent doctors," Mr. Georgiadis said. "Let's not burn the good with the bad."

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